Ahmedabad traffic police will deploy personnel at junctions along the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway and Sardar Patel Ring Road until 3 am during Navratri, while heavy vehicles will be barred from entering the city until 2 am between October 11 and 20 to manage late-night crowds and traffic around major garba venues.
The measures were outlined by Ahmedabad traffic police joint commissioner Ashwin Chauhan in a conversation with Divya Bhaskar. Police said they have identified junctions expected to experience heavy traffic and will be supported by local police during the festival period.
The extended restriction will apply to dumpers, trucks and large luxury buses. Ahmedabad currently restricts heavy vehicles in the city until 10 pm, but the timing will be extended to 2 am from October 11 to October 20. Large heavy vehicles will be allowed to enter the city only after 2 am.
Traffic police will remain present until 3 am at major garba venues where large crowds and prominent performers are expected. The deployment is intended to prevent traffic congestion around event locations and manage vehicle movement after performances conclude.
The areas identified for additional deployment include the YMCA, Karnavati Club, Ujala Circle, the road from YMCA towards the Sardar Patel Ring Road, the Sardar Patel Ring Road, Ognaj Circle and Vaishnodevi Circle. Police said these locations are expected to see substantial movement because of major garba events and increased traffic on the SG Highway.
A road connection between the YMCA Club and Karnavati Club is also being expedited ahead of the festival. The lower road, which was closed because of ongoing bridge work, is expected to be completed within two days and opened to traffic on the first night of Navratri. The stretch is approximately 1.5 kilometres long.
According to the report, the contractor has been instructed to complete the work on priority. Ahmedabad police commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot also visited the route to review the work. The road is expected to provide an additional connection between the two venues while construction activity continues in the area.
The traffic plan places particular emphasis on the SG Highway and the Sardar Patel Ring Road, where festival venues, construction activity and late-night travel will overlap. Police said personnel would be positioned at identified junctions until 3 am, while the heavy-vehicle restriction will continue until 2 am during the notified period.
The operational measures will begin with the first Navratri night on October 11. The traffic police deployment and the extended heavy-vehicle restriction are scheduled to remain in place through October 20, according to the announcement reported by Divya Bhaskar.
